Gate latch



Feb. 7,. 1933. R MAXWELL 1,896,909

GATE LATCH Filed-March l6, 1932 2 Sheeta-Sheet l flitorney Inventor Feb. 7, 1933. p MAXWELL 1,896,909

GATE LATCH Filed March l6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A5 /fi y l 9 v I I I) 7 v a- 4 F /5 l O I T l/aqrweZZ Inventor Patented Feb. 7, 1933 PATENT OFFICE rnnnYgrnnononn mxwnnn, or ro'rosr, MISSOURI GATE Lemon Application filed mah- 16, 1932. ser ia1 -N ..]599,a1e( V This invention relates to gate fasteners and retaining devices, and has more specific reference to a novel manually released gate tripped latch arrangement.

My primary aim is to generally improve upon inventions of this general classification by providing one of novel design and construction which is calculated to fulfill the requirements of the invention in a practical and eflicient manner. V I I Briefly stated, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a fixedly mounted cylindrical or tubular keeper and an especially designed intimately co-acting latch member wherein said latch member is mounted for longitudinal or vertical reciprocation and oscillation in the keeper and having a form for convenient co-operation with the adjacent end bar of the frame of the hinged gate.

The explicit details selected for provision of this arrangement will become more read-" ily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gate and post ensemble including the improved latch type fastener.

Figure 2 is a top plan View showing the gate closed and the relationship of the parts of the structure at this particular time.

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 showing the gate in the act of resuming its closedposition. V

Figure 4 is an vention per se with the gate fork removed to expose the reversible notch arrangement of the keeper.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. I

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the keeper.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the latch member. I

In Figure 1, the gate post is denoted by the numeral 9 and the gate is represented by the numeral 10, and the gate frame by the elevational view of the in numeral 11, the gate hinges by the numeral 12, and the latch post by the numerallj3. V

The latch device is composed primarily of two essential parts. The part may bea designated as a keeper audit is represented '55 by the numeral 14 and as seen in Figure 7 comprise'san open-ended cylinder or tube provided with suitableattaching brackets 15. I Upper and lower L-shapd notches are formed in the opposite endportions of the working face of the cylinder, said notches. being arranged in reverse order so. that it is possible to placefeither end of the tube up depending on whether the gate swings to the left or the right. Each notch is of stepped 55 form and the elongated portion is distinguished by the "reference character 16 and this provides the retaining keeper recess while the shorter portion of the notch denoted by the 'numeral17 forms an elevated temporary rest for the bolt when it is in the position seen in Figure 3. I

The closing cap forthe upper end of the cylinder is indicated by the numeral 18 and is interchangeable and is held inplace by a cotter key 19, said key being passed through the apertures 20 in either end of the cylinder, depending on which end is disposed up warjdly I The latch unit or member represented in Figure 8 comprises a hollow cylindrical stem I 21 of a diameter to fit slidably and. rotatably 'in the cylinder 14 as seen in F igure 4. The lower end thereof is providedwith holes 22 to accommodate the shackle of a padlock (not shown) for locking the latch whenever occasion demands. 7

The U-shaped fork is distinguished by the numeral 23 and is constructed to embrace the adj acent end bar of the frame of the'gate' as seen in Figure 1 and is connected to the stem by way of a short connection 24: which a may be distinguished as the bolt and this yoke orfork are rounded so as to avoid sharp projections.

In practice, the keeper cylinder 14 is secured by way of the attaching members 15 that arm of the fork which is. in its path and to the latch post 13 in the manner shown in V Figure 1, and the latch unit is assembled in I the cylinder as shown in Figure 4, and the up to disengage the bolt from the recess 16 at the same time, the stem 21 slides up allowing the bolt 24to be temporarily seated on thegrestor shoulder 17 andlthis places the latch unit in the position seen in Figure 3. 20 I I Upon swinging the gate to closed position, it is obvious that the frame of the gate strikes the blow thus imparted to thalatch member causes it to oscillate and'allow s the bolt2 l' to drop by gravity down into thekeeper recess 16, which position it is occupying in F igure 4.

The gist of the invention is in the position of an open-ended cylinder havingthe upper and lower. L-shaped notches forming the reversible keeper recess and temporary latch rests 17 together with the detachable pin retained closing cap 18 which is applicable to either end of the cylinder depending on whichever end is disposed upwardly. This permits the cylinder to be used for a gate comprising an open ended cylinder provided with apertured attaching members, and having L-shaped longitudinall alined notches formed at opposite ends de ning upper and lower selectively usable keeper recesses, also having its opposite ends apertured,a removable cap selectively usable for either end of said cylinder, a connecting pin co-operable with the apertures for holding the cap detachably in place, the order of the aforesaid notches being reversed to permit either end of the cylinder to be disposed upwardly.

1. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

I I PERRY THEODORE MAXWELL.

I which opens either to the left or the right as the-casemay be. I

' In addition, novelty is predicated upon the latch unit comprising the stem mounted for "vertical sliding and limited oscillation in the 1 cylinder,.wherein the upper end of the stem .is provided witha U-shaped member to embrace the adjacent bar of the frame ofthe gate 45 with that portion of the unit between said member 23 and the stem functioning as a bolt 24 which occupies the position shown in F igure 4 when the gate isclosed and occupies the temporary lateral angular position when the :latch member is in the position seen in Figure 3.

clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a 7 While the preferred embodiment of; the inventionhas been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed maybe resorted to if desired;

As anew article of manufacture, a relati'vely stationary keeper device for use in connec- --tion with a gate latch of the class described- 

